Dr. Restini to be Inducted as a Member of Fellows of the FAAPE

Dr. Carolina Restini will be inducted as a member of the Fellows of the Academy of Pharmacology Educators (FAAPE).

This prestigious title is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in pharmacology education. FAAPE Fellows are recognized for their contributions to educational innovation and scholarship, teacher-student interaction, professional development, and service to learning. Dr. Restini was nominated for this honor because of her innovative use of community service to teach pharmacology and engage students in academic research.

Her induction will be announced during the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) Annual Meeting in May in Arlington, Va.

"I would never have achieved this without the support I receive from our department," Dr. Restini said.

As an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and the pharmacology thread director in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Restini's commitment to her students is unwavering. This support extends beyond the classroom; she is also a faculty advisor for the Macomb County Street Medicine Program and the American Physician Scientists Association. She also mentors medical students applying to the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship and coordinates Interprofessional Education Research at MSUCOM.

One of Dr. Restini's most significant achievements is a community-engaged learning program that bridges medical education and community-based strategies to leverage research in health sciences and social initiatives. In this role, she coordinates the community service of about 100 students. Their work focuses on under-represented populations in Southeast Michigan. Her dedication to bridging the gap between medical education and community-based strategies is commendable.

"This is a win-win collaboration in which we serve the communities while our medical students improve their communication skills through teaching and learning opportunities," she said. "They teach the community to take active roles in their education while promoting health and wellness among communities typically underserved by the healthcare system. By learning to develop collaborative partnerships, students gain the expertise to perpetuate similar actions when they become practicing physicians."

"It's an opportunity for our students to identify problems and learn how to solve them supported by evidence and scientific data,” Dr. Restini said. "While serving the community, they develop research.”

All her research projects are IRB-approved; in this sense, students develop research based on ethical principles, analyze data, and publish and communicate their achievements at conferences. Strengthening their role as future independent healthcare providers and educators."

Dr. Restini developed similar programs in her native country, Brazil, where she led medical education in pharmacology. She guided her students in treating underserved communities with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, applying their findings "from bench to community side. It's teaching pharmacology outside the classroom for underrepresented communities," she said. "I was willing to continue this endeavor at MSU."